Coffee Production in Kenya is Falling Sharply as Farmers Age
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In the history of the coffee industry, Kenya is known as the world’s leading producer of high-quality coffee. Moreover, with the strength of fertile soil, frequent rainfall, and high altitude, coffee production in Kenya is considered one of the country’s main sources of income. However, Kenyan coffee production has declined continuously for nearly a decade. Find out with 43 Factory Coffee Roaster!
Some Information about Coffee Production in Kenya
Kenya was a former British colony, so tea was much more popular than coffee. However, coffee production also contributes largely to the country’s economy. Kenya has five coffee-growing regions: Central (Mount Kenya and Aberdare Mountains), Western (Kisii, Nyanza, and Bungoma), Great Rift Valley (Nakuru and Kericho), Eastern (Machakos, Embu and Meru), and Coastal (Taita Hills). These regions grow many different varieties of Arabica, including SL-14, SL28, SL34, Batian, Ruiru 11, and K7. Among them, the SL Coffee Group selected from the Bourbon variety in the 1930s, which is commonly grown in most areas of Kenya, helping to significantly improve the quality and output of Kenyan coffee over the years.
Kenyan coffee production is famous for its special grading system. Coffee beans are graded according to size, shape, and overall quality. These classes are AA, AB, PB, C, E, and TT. The country’s coffee is also typically produced using a fully wet processing process with a bright, highly acidic flavor profile.
The country’s trading system is also very unique. Coffee is traded through central auctions run by the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. However, before that, the coffee must be inspected and graded by the Kenya Coffee Producers and Traders Association (KCPTA) to ensure quality.
Kenya was a former British colony, so tea is much more popular than coffee
Coffee Production in Kenya has Decreased Continuously for Many Years
According to the International Coffee Organization, Kenya is the fifth-largest coffee producer in Africa. But since 2012, coffee production in Kenya has weakened. Coffee output continuously declines year after year. In 2012, Kenya produced about 49,000 tons of coffee. But by 2020, there were only 34,500 tons left.
Experts say that one of the main reasons is that the generation of coffee producers in Kenya is gradually aging while young people are not very interested in growing coffee. Today, the average age of coffee growers is high and more than half are over the age of 60. Over time, if the farms are not taken over by younger generations, coffee growing in Kenya may face great challenges and decline even more seriously.
Statistics on coffee production in Kenya from 2012 – 2020
Decreasing coffee output is a common problem for many producing countries globally in the context of climate change and increasing population aging. However, in the case of Kenya, experts say it is important that the younger generation in the country participate in coffee production as soon as possible so that the market continues to develop positively. In addition, the country’s coffee consumer market is still relatively small. Therefore, for Kenyan coffee production to develop and grow well, it is necessary to address many challenges in consumer behavior and encourage production…
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Information source from perfectdailygrind
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